Retail trade - May 2010
Retail sales edged down 0.2% in current dollars to $36.0 billion in May, as lower sales were reported in 6 of 11 subsectors.
Sales in volume terms increased 0.4%. Retail sales have been following an upward trend since the beginning of 2009.
Retail sales edge down in May
The largest decrease in dollar terms was a 4.1% decline at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers. Monthly sales levels at this store type have fluctuated substantially in recent months.
Gasoline stations sales were down 2.3%, as prices fell at the pump. This was the second consecutive monthly sales decline at gasoline stations, following increases the previous 11 months.
Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers decreased 0.5% in May. Within this subsector, a 0.4% increase at new car dealers did not fully offset declines at used car dealers (-2.6%) and automotive parts, accessories and tire stores (-9.1%).
In the five subsectors that registered higher sales in May, the largest percentage increase was at clothing and clothing accessories stores (+2.6%).
Food and beverage stores sales increased 0.9% in May. All industries within this sub-sector recorded sales increases.
After declining for three consecutive months, sales rose 0.8% at furniture and home furnishing stores.
Sales down in five provinces
Sales were down in five provinces in May. The 1.8% decline in sales in Quebec reflected a lower volume of new motor vehicles sold, as reported by the New Motor Vehicles Sales Survey.
Retail sales were down in all Atlantic provinces except New Brunswick (+1.2%).
British Columbia (+1.5%) posted the largest increase in retail sales, reflecting in part higher sales at new car dealers.
Sales in Ontario edged up 0.1% in May.
Table 1
Retail sales by province and territory
Table 1
Retail sales by province and territory May 2009 April 2010r May 2010p April to May 2010 May 2009 to May 2010
Seasonally adjusted
$ millions % change
Canada 34,221 36,093 36,015 -0.2 5.2
Newfoundland and Labrador 593 615 605 -1.7 2.1
Prince Edward Island 138 149 146 -2.2 5.5
Nova Scotia 1,004 1,064 1,046 -1.7 4.2
New Brunswick 829 864 874 1.2 5.5
Quebec 7,697 8,178 8,032 -1.8 4.4
Ontario 12,210 12,905 12,913 0.1 5.8
Manitoba 1,219 1,288 1,295 0.6 6.3
Saskatchewan 1,205 1,226 1,223 -0.3 1.4
Alberta 4,656 4,863 4,862 0.0 4.4
British Columbia 4,545 4,812 4,885 1.5 7.5
Yukon 43 46 46 0.4 8.9
Northwest Territories 57 56 59 5.5 3.4
Nunavut 27 27 27 0.2 2.6
r
revised
p
preliminary
Note(s):
Figures may not add up to total due to rounding.
Table 2
Retail sales by industry